Kalen DeBoer responds to Alabama fans booing kicker Conor Talty after FG miss vs Eastern Illinois
By Sydney Hunte
Published:
Kalen DeBoer addressed Alabama fans who booed Crimson Tide kicker Conor Talty during the Tide’s 56-0 win over Eastern Illinois on Saturday.
Talty made Alabama’s first two extra points as his team opened up a 14-0 lead. But late in the first quarter, he missed a 28-yard field goal that would have pushed the lead to 17-0, leading to some boos from the Bryant-Denny Stadium crowd. That dropped Talty to 11-of-18 on field goals for the season. Tucker Cornelius, Peter Notaro, and Reid Schuback were also on PAT duties for the Tide.
A week prior, Talty missed a potential game-tying 36-yarder against Oklahoma. Afterward, he lashed out at long snapper David Bird. This latest miss — his seventh of the year — certainly was the last thing Tide fans wanted to see.
Kalen DeBoer, meeting with the media after the game, called for fans’ support.
“I wish they’d have his back just like I know our locker room has his back,” DeBoer said, according to AL.com’s Mike Rodak.
This is Talty’s first season as Alabama’s starting kicker. He attempted four extra points in his first two years with the program, making them all.
However, despite making all 35 of his extra point attempts in 2025, he’s struggled with consistency on field goals. And that trend continued on Saturday, even in the midst of a blowout.
Sydney is an Atlanta-based journalist who has covered everything from SEC and ACC football to MLS, the U.S. men's national soccer team and professional tennis. His work has appeared on such platforms as SB Nation, Cox Media Group and FanSided.
